The Bengal breed comes from crosses between domestic cats (felis catus) and Asian Leopard Cats (felis bengalensis), also called ALCs, a feline species of similar size of domestic cats and spotted coat, very extended in Asia. Crosses between both species have occurred spontaneously since a long time ago, for sure in China, Japan and other Asian countries.

In 1963 Jean Sugden (Jean Mill after a later marriage) made the cross and brought it to the attention of Cornell University in California. In the 1970s Bill Engle, Dr. Centerwall, Ethel Hauser and others made numerous crosses. This first crosses were also showed in CFA and ACFA. Of these first shown cats there is no registered descent.

In 1983 Jean Mill (Millwood cattery), in the USA, started to register them with TICA. Soon other breeders also did, like Dr. Kent. The first bloodlines include also cats from Dr. Centerwall, Gordon Meredith and others. Later other ALC bloodlines were also introduced. Even then the two ALC of Dr. Centerwall are the ones who weigh more in the Bengal cat gene pool, as they are very present in the cats used initially in the breed.

The goal was to obtain a breed with the look of a wild spotted species, but with the character of domestic cats, with a special emphasis in obtaining the temperament of a loving pet. As they are more generations away from the ALC they are called F1, F2 and F3. The F4 is considered a domestic bengal cat (SBT in TICA, LO in FIFe). Some registries like FIFe or ACFA require F5 cats.

Some time later the marbled pattern, who comes from the blotched (or classic) tabby gene present in the domestic cats, was accepted. At first they considered creating a different breed, but finally it was accepted as another pattern of the Bengal breed.

The "snow" Bengals, coming also from the Siamese or colourpoint gene present in the domestic cats, was also accepted.

Bengals are beautiful cats, strong and agile, have an extremely soft coat, and are intelligent, active and loving cats. They like water and play with it. They form strong emotional bonds with their human friends and become loving loyal companions. They are easy to care for and lose less dead hair than other breeds.

Nowadays the breed is accepted in the most important international cat organizations, such as FIFe, TICA, WCF, etc.